Apparatus for carrying out table service mechanically



V. MARMONIER June 11, 1929.

APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT TABLE SERVICE MECHANICALLY Filed Oct. 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet We ran MAHMOJVIIA' :i iL

June 11, 1929. v. MARMONIER APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT TABLE SERVICE MECHANICALLY Filed Oct. 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES VICTOR MARMONIER, F LYON, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR'CARRYING OUT TABLE SERVICE MECHAN'ICLALLY.

Application filed October 6, 1927, Serial No. 224,498, and inFrance February 8, 1927.

The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for carrying out table service mechanically, thus replacing the personnel which is usually employed for this purpose.

The device essentially comprises a table installed in the pantry, and connected to the dining room table by a roller track on which a waiter device is moved by suitable mechanism, so as to permit the eatables to be transported from the pantry to the dining room and vice versa.

The table in the dining room is hollow at its centre part, and arranged in shelves so as to permit the passage of the waiter device above the utensils, the said device being surmounted by a dish supporting device, which is movable and can swivel, thus ensuring the simultaneous service to two guests occupying opposite seats.

The annexed drawing shows, byway of example, two constructional forms of the in vention.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form, the dining room table being in longitudinal section so as to show its special form.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement,

showing in horizontal section the dish sup.

port mechanism and the opening formed in the middle of the dining room table) Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the dining room table.

Fig. 4 shows, in sectional elevation, a modification of the dish supporting device, I

Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 shows, in elevation and in plan the arrangement of the dish support for the service of a circular table. v v

. The table support 1, arranged in the pantry, is connected to the dining room table 2 by a track 3. On the track 3'is a movable waiter device, 4 mounted on four rollers 5. A small electric motor 6 fixed on-the waiter device drives the front shaft of the rollers through a worm 7, thus moving said device. The electric motor is connected by flexible wires with a stop 8 arranged on the dining room table in a position permitting the memher 9 on the waiter device to contact with the stop'8, when the device is in its serving position in the centre of the table, and thus to cause the breaking of the current and the stoppage of the motor. The stoppage of the motor on the return of the waiter device on the pantry support table is carried out by similar means, contact taking place between the stop 10 arranged on the table support and the member 11 on the waiter device;

The unwinding of the flexible wires connected to the electric motor during the for ward travel, and the winding up on the return travel, is ensured by the operation of a small spring drum 12 and pulleys 13 over which the wires pass.

To the table support 1 is fixed a set of jointed levers, the lever 14 being provided with a counter-Weight 15, in order to facilitate its operation and being attached to the rod 16 connected to the panel 17 closing the opening formed in the partition separating the dining room from the pantry. A handle 18, which the waiter in the pantry can operate, permits the panel 17 to be raised for the passage of the waiter device as it moves to.

take up its position of service in the centre of the dining room table 2. The panel 17 is immediately closed after the passage of the clearing device. The same control movement is used for starting the electric motor, whose stoppage is carried out as has been explained. The motor is started by means of a rod 19 pivoted on the lever 14, on the one hand, and acting, onthe other hand, on an interrupter 20 with" four contacts controlling the electric motor. I

p The interrupter 20 ensures the opening of the trap and starting of the motor during. the operation of the said two levers and allows the trap to return to its closed position immediately after the passage of the waiter device without effe'cting the motor current until the said. device in the service position, when the motor is stopped as has been explained. The dining room table 2 is in the form of shelves shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in order that theservice (plates 21, tumblers 22 and carafes 23) can be disposed in such a manner that the waiter device passes slightly above the level of the table and occupies a position such as shown dotted on Fig. 1, there being no risk of upsetting the table service in the movement of said device.

The dish support 24, shown in plan and section on a horizontal plane in Fig. 2, is mounted on a pivot 25 so that" it can make a complete turn. Two arms 26 and 27, with rack teeth28, engage with a pinion29 loosely mounted on the shaft of the pivot 25 thus causing a forward or backward stroke in the reverse direction, according to whether handles 30 01 31 are pushed or pulled. Each guest can thus be served successively as shown dotted in Fig. 2. The arms 26 and 27 slide on the bearings 32 and 33, ensuring great sweetness of movement.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4, is a modification of the dish support arrangement, in which the support forms a sleeve 34 having at its lower part an internally toothed ring. The sleeve 34 rotates in an other sleeve 36 which is traversed by a shaft 37 at one end of which is keyed a toothed wheel 38 engaging with a pinion 39 integral with another toothed wheel 40 mounted on a shaft 41. fixed on the support 49. The toothed wheel 40 engages with the toothed ring The two arms 42 and 48 slide on ball bearings 44-45 and they are also formed as racks, and engage with a pinion 46 loosely mounted on the shaft 37. At the upper end of the shaft 37, is keyed a lever 47 connected to the rod 48, which is attached to the dish support arm 43. I

It will be understood that when the sleeve 34 rotates the internally toothed ring drives the toothed wheel 40 in the same direction, as well as the pinion 39 which is integral with it. The latter drives the toothed wheel 38 in the opposite direction, causing rotation of the lever 47 in the same direction, said lever being keyed on the same shaft as the toothed wheel 38.

At this point in the rotation, the lever 47 and the rod 48 being in one or other extended position, the rod has communicated to the arm support 43 a movement which has moved itoutward through a distance corresponding to the greatest dimension of the table. The rack, however, by the aid of the loose pinion 46, has also communicated to the other arm support 42, in the reverse direction, a lengthening movement. As the lever 47, continues to rotate, it drives with it the rod 48, and the inward movement is obtained in the reverse direction to that previously described. I

The device arranged to serve a circular table, shown in Fig. 6, is'easily understood by looking'at that figure, whereon will be 7 seen a single arm adapted to describe'a circle concentric to the table, thus affecting successive service for each guest. It will be understood that this device may also'comprise more than one arm. 7 p The operation of the above arrangement is as follows 1- 7 When the waiter device is provided with the necessary service, the waiter in the pantry presses on the handle 18 which removes the trap 17 which closes the opening between the pantry and dining room, and simultaneously actuates the interrupter 20, thus starting the electric motor. The waiter device rolls over its track until it is in the service position in the centre of the dining room table. On its arrival at this position, contact is made between the stop 8 arranged onthe table and the member 9 on the waiter device, the interrupter 20 then operating to stop said device moving further. The reverse movement causes the return of the waiter device and its stoppage in the desired position on the pantry table.

It will be understood that the dimensions and details may be varied without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for carrying out table service mechanically, comprising a support, a table, a track connecting said support and table, a waiter device movable along the said track and arranged to carry articles and utensils to be arranged or removed from the table, and dish supporting devices adapted to be moved simultaneously towards or away from the center of said waiter device.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said waiter device is turnable and carries two dish-supporting devices interconnected by rack teeth and a toothed pinion.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising an electric motor adapted to drive the waiter device and mounted thereon, and means for automatically cutting off the motor current when the waiter device is in the position of service on the table.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein mechanism for starting the electric motor is interconnected with means for simulta neously lowering or otherwise removing a trap which closes an opening in'a partition between the support and table, the motor being started and the said means operated by a single control member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where in the table is formed with a shelved central part, in order to permit the waiter device to move over the table without interfering with the utensils arranged thereon.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

VICTOR l/lAlllvflOlllltR. 

